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Oct 3, 2022World Architecture Day

In Belgium"s largest city, the Antwerp Port Authority is housed in a century-old building that sports a gleaming new addition. The update to the building, known as the Port House, was the vision that Zaha Hadid created with her team at Zaha Hadid Architects, which won a 2009 competition to build the new structure around a 1911 firehouse. Work was completed in 2016, the same year the famed architect died. The expansion is intended to resemble the hull of a sailing ship with a protruding bow glimmering with diamonds, recalling Antwerp"s longtime trade in precious stones.Desktop Version

Oct 19, 2023Mekong River Delta, Long An, Vietnam

In the heart of Vietnam, where emerald rice fields stretch to the horizon and a mighty river flows with life-giving waters, flooding becomes an anticipated dance between nature and culture. The Mekong River experiences flooding every year, which turns this river into a photographer"s paradise. Adorned with elegant lilies that are nourished by the floods, farmers in the Long An province, in southeastern Vietnam, dedicate their days to harvesting the bloom of the plants. The annual floods bring in nutrients from upstream, enriching the fields and helping these flowers grow. These lilies also provide a food supply and contribute to the community"s economy since the stems are edible and the plant can be brewed into tea. These long-stemmed flowers pay tribute to nature"s ability to generate moments of amazing beauty that inspire and uplift the human soul.Desktop Version

Oct 5, 2019A fair that s star-studded

Meet Texas Star, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America and a big attraction at the State Fair of Texas. Built in 1985, it sends riders so high that on a clear day they can see the Fort Worth skyline, about 40 miles away. Since 1886, locals and visitors have come to Dallas" historic Fair Park for food, rides, shows, and other attractions. About 100,000 people a day now visit the fairgrounds to experience the array of activities and treats, from the largest new car show in the Southwest to a bevy of culinary delights. You can try deep-fried shepherd"s pie, fried beer, or something called deep-fried skillet potato melt. Awards are given to the tastiest concoctions. But the fair"s flavor extends beyond food. The purpose is to promote Texas agriculture, education, and community. There"s plenty to do after exploring and sampling one-of-a-kind bites, including live music, pig races—and don"t forget to ride the Texas Star. This year, the State Fair of Texas runs through October 20.Desktop Version

Jun 12, 2022Big Bend National Park turns 78

Join us for a hike at one of America"s least-visited national parks. Big Bend National Park may be among the country"s largest national parks with an area of over 800,000 acres (about the size of Rhode Island), but it"s also one of the most remote. Found in West Texas along the Rio Grande at the Mexico border, the park entrance is roughly a two-hour drive from the nearest interstate. The good thing is, even in a "busy" year when half a million people visit, there"s plenty of space to enjoy the great outdoors unhindered by crowds.Desktop Version

Apr 8, 2022Ponta Delgada

Today we"re taking a trip to the verdant cliffs at the edge of Madeira, the principal island of the Portuguese archipelago that"s also called Madeira, roughly 320 miles west of Morocco in the North Atlantic. These terraced hillsides are just outside the village of Ponta Delgada, on the north coast of the island. Originally uninhabited, Madeira and the other islands in this chain were settled by the Portuguese in the early 1400s and became a main stopover for European explorers during the so-called Age of Discovery.Desktop Version

Aug 13, 2019An ice cap-puccino

No, that"s not a new frozen coffee drink from Starbucks; it"s the southern polar ice cap on Mars. Mars is the only other planet in the solar system with visible ice caps, though they differ from Earth’s because the ice caps on Mars consist of both water ice and frozen carbon dioxide. The ice cap looks smooth here, but its surface is pockmarked with swiss-cheese-like depressions caused by the seasonal freezing and melting of the Martian winters and summers. While Mars has been observed by humanity for thousands of years, it was only on August 13, 1672, that Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens observed the ice cap using the most powerful telescope of the day. The giant of science designed the 50x magnification telescope himself, and with his brother, produced the lenses as well.Desktop Version

Oct 10, 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado

The rising sun hits the twin peaks of Mount Sopris in this autumnal scene, in Colorado"s Elk Mountains, in the Rockies. Known as East Sopris and West Sopris, the two summits are both 12,965 feet in elevation, towering over the town of Carbondale, in the Roaring Fork Valley. It"s a common misconception that Mount Sopris was a volcano but, although magma built up beneath its surface, it never erupted. Instead, it crystallized about 10,000 feet beneath the Earth"s surface, creating a massive rock-covered dome. Erosion by rain, melting snow and glacial ice then shaped it into this twin-peaked giant over tens of millions of years.Desktop Version

Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy

You might have heard of a pool of tears, but have you ever heard of a lake of tears? Well, legend has it that Lake Misurina, pictured here, in Italy"s Dolomites, was born from the sorrow of a giant named Sorapis. At more than 5,700 feet above sea level, it is the largest natural lake in the Cadore region, with its perimeter stretching more than 1.5 miles. The area around the lake is known for its beneficial climate, especially for those with respiratory conditions. Its crystal-clear waters and surrounding hotels provide a perfect getaway for up to 500 visitors. The lake played a role in the 1956 Winter Olympics, where it hosted speed skating events on natural ice, and it has even been immortalized in a pop song by singer Claudio Baglioni. With astounding views, mythical roots, and activities for every season, this lake may well be the Dolomites" most alluring reflection.Desktop Version

Feb 13, 2022American bison

Although American bison live and defend themselves as a herd, these two don"t appear to see eye to eye. With their massive heads, they"re natural stand-ins for the helmeted human titans facing off in the stadium today for Super Bowl Sunday.Desktop Version

Nov 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania

Curving above the treetops of Biržai Regional Park in northern Lithuania, this unusual structure allows a bird"s-eye view of a unique landscape. Built in 2015, the Kirkilai Observation Tower"s shape is said to resemble a sinking boat, appropriate in an area dotted with water-filled sink holes. About 30 of these small lakes can be seen from the top of the tower, nearly 100 feet in the air. These lakes can be up to 36 feet deep and are just some of the thousands of sinkholes identified in the park. Water-soluble rocks like gypsum lie under the soil in this area, and over time they gradually erode, forming caves, which then collapse. In some cases, they fill with water, creating this mesmerizing landscape. The interconnected lakes mirror the surrounding greenery, creating a scenic haven for nature enthusiasts.Desktop Version

Aug 10, 2023World Lion Day

Lions are known as "the king of the jungle," but on World Lion Day, let"s set the record straight: Lions don"t live in the jungle. Lions lounge in lordly leisure and hunt with ferocious focus on grasslands and plains. When they"re not hunting, these majestic creatures nap, wrestle, and groom each other. But in an instant, they"re chasing down a hapless gazelle or a hippopotamus that"s wandered too far from the safety of its river. Like the opening song of "The Lion King" movie says, it"s the circle of life. World Lion Day is our opportunity to (ahem) lionize these regal beasts and raise awareness of threats to their well-being like poaching, habitat destruction, and other human-lion conflicts.Desktop Version

Nov 9, 2019We heart Berlin

We"re gazing at the Brandenburg Gate—a symbol of peace and unity—through a heart-shaped replica of a remnant of the Berlin Wall, probably the most potent symbol of the political division that once scarred the German capital. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the concrete barrier that once obstructed this view.Desktop Version

May 12, 2023Wild lupines

These stunning wild lupines bring shades of blue, pink, and purple to meadows and roadsides from early spring. They are not just a stunning addition to the landscape—they are crucial for the survival of the rare Karner blue butterfly. The larvae of the short-lived species will only feed on wild blue lupines, crawling up their stems to eat new leaves when they hatch. Once widespread across much of eastern North America, wild lupines have been in decline since the Industrial Revolution and human development has reduced their range. This has had a knock-on effect on the butterflies, which are now an endangered species. Conservation efforts have focused on replanting areas of wild blue lupines to boost butterfly numbers.Desktop Version

Mar 21, 2023International Day of Color

Wherever there is light, there is color. It lends liveliness and character to the world around us, but we can also use it strategically to convey particular tones and messages. Blue creates a sense of tranquility, purple gives a sense of luxury, and red can express passion or danger. On International Color Day, organizations around the world meet to discuss research and share knowledge about color theory and its use in the fields of industry, arts, science, and design. As you go about your day, stop and take in the colors around you and think about why they were chosen and how they make you feel. It might just make you consider how you use color in your own life.Desktop Version

Sep 21, 2021An old celebration for a new season

This photo takes us to Hong Kong"s Victoria Park, where a group of engineers constructed a giant lantern sculpture called "Rising Moon." It"s made of more than 7,000 recycled plastic water bottles with LED lights inside, to honor one of China"s most important holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival. While it"s only been an "official" public holiday in China since 2008, mention of the Mid-Autumn Festival first appeared in written historical texts as far back as 3,000 years ago. Families celebrate the holiday by lighting paper lanterns and sharing a meal, traditionally at a round table. This reunion is said to bring good luck and happiness.Desktop Version

Jul 20, 2022National Moon Day

Bigger and brighter than anything else you can see from Earth in the night sky, the moon has inspired our calendar, our songs, our art, our stories, and our dreams. Today, on National Moon Day, we remember one dream that came true on this date in 1969: the day humans first set foot on the lunar surface. So far, it"s the only place beyond our planet that humans have visited.Desktop Version

Jul 31, 2022Noctilucent clouds

It"s around this time of year when some lucky people get to witness these rare, wondrous clouds. Known as noctilucent, or "night-shining," clouds, they"re the highest clouds in our sky and are only visible during summer. They"re made up of icy dust glowing at the edge of space, roughly 50 miles above the planet"s surface. The trick to seeing them is to gaze up into the sky at twilight, when sunlight is not reaching the Earth"s surface, but is still shining through the high-altitude noctilucent clouds. These clouds occur more often at high latitudes but have been seen lower than 50° north and south.Desktop Version

Oct 2, 2022Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

October means pumpkin fields, Halloween, leaf-peeping, and the World Series. But in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the beginning of October means a skyful of hot air balloons. The 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest gathering of balloonists in the world, with more than 500 hot air balloons going aloft this week. The now nine-day event got its start by launching 13 balloons from a shopping mall parking lot in 1972 to celebrate the birthday of a local radio station. It has easily become the biggest event of the year in Albuquerque, whose entire populace can view balloons in flight simply by stepping outside their homes and looking up.Desktop Version

Mar 16, 2023Panda Day

Giant pandas are loved the world over but nowhere more than in China, where they are considered national treasures. On March 16, we celebrate these distinctive bears, which live mainly in forests in the mountains of western China and subsist almost entirely on a diet of bamboo. These black-and-white giants start off small—a newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter—but after eating their way through between 26 and 84 pounds of bamboo a day, male adults can weigh in at up to 300 pounds.Desktop Version

Mar 6, 2024Wahclella Falls, Oregon

Nestled in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, there"s something special awaiting hikers: the Wahclella Falls. Fed by Tanner Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, these waterfalls were named after a Native American village by members of the Mazama Mountaineering Club. At the end of a trail, visitors can see the spectacular two-tiered cascade that crashes down 350 feet into a pool below, which is the perfect place to take a dip and cool off. While you"re swimming, keep an eye out for the water ouzel—also known as the American dipper—a species of bird that lives here. They can be spotted flying along the stream and occasionally diving into the water.Desktop Version

Sep 11, 2019A tower of remembrance

Pictured here is the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot-tall monument to the passengers and crew on Flight 93. Hijackers seized the plane shortly after it left Newark, New Jersey, on September 11, 2001. As travelers onboard learned of the coordinated attacks in New York and Washington, DC, a group of passengers and flight crew attempted to wrest control of the plane. The aircraft crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board. It was the only one of the four hijacked planes that didn’t hit its intended target.Desktop Version

May 23, 2023World Turtle Day

With distinctive markings on their shells, western box turtles, such as the one seen here, are among the most widely recognized turtle species and one of two box turtle species in the US. Box turtles are named after their dome-shaped shells which are hinged at the bottom, allowing the shell to close like a box if it needs to hide from predators. They generally live for around 25 years but can survive for more than 50, and there have been reports of some living for 100 years.Desktop Version

Jan 31, 2023Burchells zebras for International Zebra Day

It"s International Zebra Day, and we"re giving a shout-out to the flashiest animal on the African savanna. It"s a day to raise awareness of these distinctive creatures and encourage measures to protect them and their habitat. This group of Burchell"s zebras is hanging out at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa.Desktop Version

Sep 22, 2019Barcelona bids farewell to summer

Every year, for four days in September, locals and tourists flock to one of Barcelona’s biggest events, La Mercè Festival. It got its beginnings in 1687 when Barcelona was suffering from a plague of locusts. In desperation, city officials voted to ask for the assistance of La Mare de Déu de la Mercè (the Virgin of Mercy). Eventually, having been delivered from the pestilence, the officials named the Virgin of Mercy the patroness of Barcelona, and an annual festival has been celebrated in her honor in the city ever since.Desktop Version

Jan 13, 2023Giant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

All along the Pacific Coast of North America, giant stands of kelp up to 100 feet high, like this one in California"s Channel Islands, provide habitat for a vast number of fish, invertebrates, and sea mammals. Giant kelp, technically a type of brown algae, is the largest of all seaweed and one of the fastest-growing of any organism—as much as 2 feet per day! The gas-filled pods you see in this image help the kelp float. Like the trees in the Amazon, the kelp forests of our oceans are key to the health of marine life.Desktop Version

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